So time for some Rashan Gary news..
This one was everything LSU wanted it to be - and then some. I can tell you that Gary really loved his first visit down here in late-July, and he told his mom they needed to go back together as soon as possible. So that’s why they booked the plane tickets less than two weeks later to come down to Baton Rouge from New Jersey on their own dime. And as I passed along in previous tidbits, his mother showed up and was ready to go. She asked question after question, and I’m told that by the time she left campus, she was very happy with everything that they saw. They did the dinner with the coaches and their families in Tiger Stadium (let me add that one source said it was “by far the nicest meal for a visitor … maybe ever”) and got lots of meetings in with Les Miles and the defensive coaches about how they will use him, what their plans are, etc.
But put me down for the biggest impact being made on the academic front. And when I say the red carpet got rolled out, they put them through an academic gauntlet of sorts that I can only recall one or two other recruits ever getting. I mentioned that they sat down with LSU Associate Athletics Director Verge Ausberry (a former Tiger football player) to go over things, and for those that don’t know, Verge relates to these student-athletes very well and families always attract to him. So that meeting was a hit.
It didn’t stop there. They also got to meet with LSU Athletics Director Joe Alleva to talk about LSU and what they bring to the table for student-athletes. That meeting was a good one. But Gary and his mom even got to sit down with LSU President F. King Alexander. He’s been the President of schools across the country, from the West Coast to down South, and he even attended school at Wisconsin. So he’s been all over, and he’s seen enough to be able to sell LSU on being the total package no matter the distance. Like I said, not many recruits get to sit down with the president of the university, but Gary and his mom did.
But I’m on board with this being the biggest win of the weekend.. What does Gary’s mom value outside of football? Academics. Bottom line. And who oversees the academic side of things for the LSU football team? That would be Walt Holliday, the Director of Academic Affairs who is probably one of the most popular guys the team deals with. And where is he from? New Jersey… Played his college ball at Rutgers and grew up just a stone’s throw from where Rashan’s mother is from. That connection paid off this weekend as I’m told Gary’s mom really liked Holliday and loved that they had the New Jersey connection. So if anyone can sell LSU being a great fit for a kid from New Jersey, it’s someone like him.
I’ll say this again. Buckle up. LSU is in the lead group. Top two. No doubts in my mind about that. He can choose from any school in the country, but I think he’s leaning towards making the leap to go down South for college - which is why this summer swing of visits was so important to him and his mother. I’ve got LSU, Auburn and Georgia out front, and I realize he made two trips to Athens and cancelled that five-day swing that included a visit to Auburn, but my gut (and from what I’m hearing…) is that LSU and Auburn are the two schools that Gary leaves the summer highest on. Obviously lots of teams will be in the mix as he narrows his list down and takes official visits, but LSU is right there out front.
Ed Orgeron and the staff blew this one out of the water. I’m very tempted to put in my LSU Crystal Ball pick since there are current picks out there for Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Ohio State. But I will let the dust settle from the trip and try to talk to him or his mother on the phone before I put that stamp of confidence down. But I’m close. Very close..
This one was everything LSU wanted it to be - and then some. I can tell you that Gary really loved his first visit down here in late-July, and he told his mom they needed to go back together as soon as possible. So that’s why they booked the plane tickets less than two weeks later to come down to Baton Rouge from New Jersey on their own dime. And as I passed along in previous tidbits, his mother showed up and was ready to go. She asked question after question, and I’m told that by the time she left campus, she was very happy with everything that they saw. They did the dinner with the coaches and their families in Tiger Stadium (let me add that one source said it was “by far the nicest meal for a visitor … maybe ever”) and got lots of meetings in with Les Miles and the defensive coaches about how they will use him, what their plans are, etc.
But put me down for the biggest impact being made on the academic front. And when I say the red carpet got rolled out, they put them through an academic gauntlet of sorts that I can only recall one or two other recruits ever getting. I mentioned that they sat down with LSU Associate Athletics Director Verge Ausberry (a former Tiger football player) to go over things, and for those that don’t know, Verge relates to these student-athletes very well and families always attract to him. So that meeting was a hit.
It didn’t stop there. They also got to meet with LSU Athletics Director Joe Alleva to talk about LSU and what they bring to the table for student-athletes. That meeting was a good one. But Gary and his mom even got to sit down with LSU President F. King Alexander. He’s been the President of schools across the country, from the West Coast to down South, and he even attended school at Wisconsin. So he’s been all over, and he’s seen enough to be able to sell LSU on being the total package no matter the distance. Like I said, not many recruits get to sit down with the president of the university, but Gary and his mom did.
But I’m on board with this being the biggest win of the weekend.. What does Gary’s mom value outside of football? Academics. Bottom line. And who oversees the academic side of things for the LSU football team? That would be Walt Holliday, the Director of Academic Affairs who is probably one of the most popular guys the team deals with. And where is he from? New Jersey… Played his college ball at Rutgers and grew up just a stone’s throw from where Rashan’s mother is from. That connection paid off this weekend as I’m told Gary’s mom really liked Holliday and loved that they had the New Jersey connection. So if anyone can sell LSU being a great fit for a kid from New Jersey, it’s someone like him.
I’ll say this again. Buckle up. LSU is in the lead group. Top two. No doubts in my mind about that. He can choose from any school in the country, but I think he’s leaning towards making the leap to go down South for college - which is why this summer swing of visits was so important to him and his mother. I’ve got LSU, Auburn and Georgia out front, and I realize he made two trips to Athens and cancelled that five-day swing that included a visit to Auburn, but my gut (and from what I’m hearing…) is that LSU and Auburn are the two schools that Gary leaves the summer highest on. Obviously lots of teams will be in the mix as he narrows his list down and takes official visits, but LSU is right there out front.
Ed Orgeron and the staff blew this one out of the water. I’m very tempted to put in my LSU Crystal Ball pick since there are current picks out there for Michigan, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Ohio State. But I will let the dust settle from the trip and try to talk to him or his mother on the phone before I put that stamp of confidence down. But I’m close. Very close..